SUPER STAR: Why isn’t that Who You Are?

This weekend I saw Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Watching Chris Pine up there on the big screen reminded me of something I’ve wondered about for several years now: how do you know when an actor is going to hit it big?

I first noticed Mr. Pine back in 2009 when he originally played Captain Kirk in Star Trek. A quick review of his credits shows that wasn’t his first movie by any stretch, but it was the first time he really caught my attention. I was blown away. There was no doubt in my mind this guy had what it takes to become a mega star.

Apparently, I was mistaken.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think he’s a major talent. No question Pine’s been a real asset in every movie I’ve seen him in. He’s charm personified and I always buy whatever he’s selling.

Still, he has yet to become a household name, despite the tremendous success a number of his movies have enjoyed.

The same is true for Cary Elwes. When I first saw him years ago in the role of Westley in Princess Bride, I thought Okay, this guy is about to make it BIG!

Nope, it simply didn’t happen.

Elwes has certainly appeared in a large number of major films. He’s been a good guy, a bad guy and pretty much everything in between. He always does a terrific job and, like Pine, is darn easy on the eyes.

Still, true star power eludes him. And I simply don’t know why.

Yet men with what I consider lesser talent continue to make it all the way to the top.

The only way I’ve been able to make sense of all this is to decide there’s a certain something, some essence or star quality that certain people exude.

Others may be more talented, and even better looking, but if they don’t possess that star quality, what Simon Cowell has termed “The X Factor,” it’s not going to matter. They’ll continue to do a brilliant job at every role they’re given, but they’ll never become a household name. They’ll never really make it as a star.

HOW ABOUT YOU? IS THERE A CELEBRITY YOU’VE NOTICED OVER THE YEARS WHO SIMPLY HASN’T BECOME THE SUPERSTAR YOU’VE EXPECTED THEM TO BE? A FREE COPY OF MY DEBUT NOVEL, MRS. GOODFELLER, WILL BE RANDOMLY AWARDED TO ONE PERSON WHO LEAVES A COMMENT BELOW BEFORE THE NEXT WRITERSPACE BLOG IS POSTED.

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